The Costume Collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American
History, Behring Center
contains over 30,000 garments and accessories representing the changing
appearance of Americans from the 17th century to the present. The collection
illustrates many of the social, cultural technological, and economic influences
affecting dress made or worn in America.

Designer-label clothes created by Hispanic designers are well represented
in the collection. Two of these designers rarely left Europe, but their
creations were purchased and worn mostly by Americans. Other Hispanic
designers left their native countries to train or apprentice in Paris
and then immigrated to the United States. After learning American techniques
in the mass production and marketing of clothing, they became an influential
part of the American ready-to-wear industry.